A win and an overtime loss kept the North Delta Devils in third place in the Tom Shaw Conference of the Pacific Junior Hockey League (PJHL).
The Junior B team lost 3-2 in overtime to the Richmond Sockeyes Thursday night in Richmond, then blanked division-rivals Grandview Steelers Saturday evening in the Sungod Arena.
North Delta is 12-10-2 (won-lost-tied) and is two points ahead of the Steelers and seven back of the Sockeyes. Four teams from the conference will make the playoffs.
Outshot 36-20 by the Sockeyes, the Devils were rewarded by earning a single point in the PJHL standings against a team which has lost just five times in 21 starts this season.
After a scoreless first period, Danton Heinen put the Sockeyes ahead 13 minutes into the second, a lead that lasted just 18 seconds before Colin Catchpole tied the game for North Delta.
Mack Wallace game the visitors a lead, with Catchpole earning an assist, two minutes into the final period, but Jeremy Hamaguchi tied the game 2-2 a the four-minute mark then scored the winner three minutes into the second overtime period.
North Delta was scoreless on three power play opportunities, while Richmond went one-for-two.
Steve Myland made 33 of 36 saves in the North Delta goal.
The Devils had the edge in every category Saturday night, outshooting the Steelers 41-32. Marco Romano scored the game-winning goal on one of four power play chances for North Delta. The home side also killed off all three shorthanded situations.
After Romano’s goal in the first minute of the second period, Blake Gorrill added an insurance tally midway through the frame, his first goal of the season.
Romano added his second of the game with 15 minutes remaining in the third period, boosting his season total to a team-high eight.
Devils netminder Steve Myland earned his second shutout of the season, and also picked up an assist on Gorrill’s goal.
The Devils will be in Mission for a game against the Mission City Outlaws Thursday night, then will host the Port Moody Panthers at 6:45 p.m. Saturday night in the Sungod Arena.
